Successful Salvage of Partial Gastric Conduit Necrosis by Primary Anastomosis in a Post-Esophagectomy Patient.

Gastric conduit necrosis is a rare but severe complication of esophageal surgery, often associated with mediastinal sepsis and high morbidity and mortality rates, as well as reduced efficacy of conservative treatments. In most cases, management involves salvage therapy, including fluid resuscitation, antibiotics, aggressive debridement, drainage of infected collections, and proximal esophageal diversion. Primary anastomosis is rarely performed. We describe a successful case wherein we salvaged a patient following a McKeown esophagectomy and gastric pull-up, who developed partial full-thickness necrosis of the gastric conduit postoperatively, along with pleural and mediastinal sepsis. We managed this situation through thoracic debridement, take-down of the anastomosis, resection of the devitalized segment of the conduit, and primary esophagogastric anastomosis. Conduit perfusion was demonstrated using ICG fluorescent angiography. This case illustrates that, once debridement and sepsis control are achieved, a primary anastomosis, if feasible, can be safely performed, potentially avoiding a two-step procedure and a second laparotomy/thoracotomy.

Feasibility and efficacy of indocyanine green in monitoring systemic drug leakage during isolated limb perfusion for recurrent melanoma of extremity.

Melanoma is known for its high metastatic potential and aggressive growth. Recurrence is common post-surgery, sometimes leading to unresectable disease. Locally recurrent unresectable melanoma of extremity has been treated with high-dose anticancer chemotherapy via isolated limb perfusion (ILP) to improve local efficacy of drug and salvage limbs. Standard ILP monitoring uses radiolabeled dyes, requiring specialized personnel and involving radiation exposure. In this case, we used indocyanine green (ICG) to track systemic drug leakage during ILP. A 47-year-old gentleman with recurrent malignant melanoma of the left foot, operated twice earlier and treated with adjuvant pembrolizumab, presented with multiple in-transit metastases in the limb. ILP was planned, with 5 mg ICG administered in the perfusion solution along with high-dose melphalan. Stryker's SPI PHI handheld device was employed to visualize ICG during ILP. Absence of fluorescence beyond the involved extremity, such as fingers, ears, and the abdominal wall, indicated no systemic drug dispersion. For control, technetium radiocolloid dye was co-administered, monitored by a precordial gamma probe, confirming no systemic leakage, and validating effectiveness of ICG in leakage monitoring. ICG proves to be a safe, reliable, cost-effective, radiation-free approach for precise systemic drug leakage monitoring during ILP for recurrent melanoma of extremity.

Factors associated with pathologic complete response following neoadjuvant chemoradiation and esophagectomy for carcinoma of esophagus and gastroesophageal junction.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze factors associated with pathologic complete response (pCR) following neoadjuvant chemoradiation (NCRT) and esophagectomy for carcinoma of the esophagus (EC) and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ). METHODS: Patients with EC and GEJ tumors who received NCRT and underwent esophagectomy between January 2010 to March 2021 were included. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the factors associated with pCR by comparing the patients who achieved pCR (pCR group) with those who did not achieve pCR (non-pCR group). RESULTS: A total of 321 patients were included in the study, with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) accounting for the majority of cases (76%). One hundred and sixty (49.8%) patients had pCR. SCC histology and pretreatment radiographic node-negative status (cN0) were associated with pCR. Patients in the pCR group had significantly better overall and disease-free survival compared with patients in the non-pCR group. CONCLUSIONS: SCC histology and pretreatment radiographic node-negative status were associated with pCR. For patients with tumors of EC and GEJ who received NCRT and underwent esophagectomy, pCR was associated with improved prognosis compared with those not achieving pCR.

Influence of neoadjuvant therapy on outcomes in patients with resectable carcinoma of esophagus and gastro-esophageal junction from a tertiary cancer care center in India.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to compare the outcomes of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCT), neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by surgery to upfront surgery (surgery alone) in patients with resectable carcinoma of the esophagus (esophageal cancer [EC]), and gastro-esophageal junction (GEJ) in a limited resource setting. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database was performed to identify patients (from January 2010 through December 2016) who underwent surgery for EC and GEJ cancers. RESULTS: A total of 454 patients were included and categorized into the following groups: nCT (n = 65), nCRT (n = 152) and upfront surgery (n = 237). Squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma accounted for two-thirds and one-third of the cases, respectively. nCRT group patients were also noted to have smaller tumors, lower margin positivity and a higher R0 resection rates. With a median follow up of 76 months (35-118 months) improved 5-year overall survival was noted in nCRT group in comparison to nCT and upfront surgery groups (56.5% vs. 34% and 35%, respectively, p = .021). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study demonstrate the beneficial effect of nCRT for patients with EC and GEJ in a limited resource setting. Further studies are required to analyze and promote the benefits of nCRT in limited-resource settings.